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Disability benefits preparation glossary

Disability Benefits Glossary

Plain-English definitions for common Social Security Disability terms, including SSDI, SSI, medical evidence, work credits, appeals, and hearings.

Last updated: June 2026

Quick answer

Disability benefits terms can be confusing. This glossary explains common words like SSDI, SSI, medical evidence, function report, appeal, and hearing in plain English. It is meant to help you organize information before applying, appealing, or speaking with an advocate or representative.

Browse glossary terms

Choose a term below to jump to the plain-English definition, why it matters, and what information may be useful to gather.

SSDISSISubstantial Gainful ActivityMedical EvidenceTreating ProviderResidual Functional CapacityFunction ReportWork CreditsDate Last InsuredReconsiderationAppealHearing

How to use this glossary

Use this page as a simple reference. You do not need to memorize every term. When you see a word on an SSA notice, application, appeal, or preparation guide, come back here to understand the basic meaning and what records may be useful to organize.

SSDI

SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It is a Social Security program for people who may have earned enough work credits and who have a medical condition that limits their ability to work.

Why it matters

SSDI is connected to work history and work credits. If you are preparing information for SSDI, your past jobs, last worked date, and recent earnings can be important to organize.

What to gather

  • Recent work history and job duties
  • Last worked date or reduced-hours information
  • Monthly earnings if you are still working
  • Medical treatment and limitation details
SSDI vs SSIHow to Describe Work LimitationsApplying While Still Working

SSI

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. It is a disability benefits program that also looks at financial need, income, and resources.

Why it matters

SSI is different from SSDI because it is not based only on work credits. People preparing for SSI may need to organize health information along with basic financial and living information.

What to gather

  • Medical conditions, treatment, and daily limitations
  • Basic income and living situation information
  • Current work or earnings information if applicable
  • SSA notices or application-status information
SSDI vs SSIDisability Application Checklist

Substantial Gainful Activity

Substantial gainful activity is a Social Security term related to work and earnings. It is often shortened to SGA.

Why it matters

If you are working, your monthly earnings and the way your condition affects your job can be important. This is why work status and monthly earnings should be organized carefully.

What to gather

  • Current work status
  • Monthly earnings before taxes if known
  • Reduced hours or missed work details
  • Job tasks that are harder because of your condition
How to Describe Work LimitationsApplying While Still Working

Medical Evidence

Medical evidence means health-related information that helps show your condition, treatment, symptoms, tests, and limitations.

Why it matters

Medical evidence can help explain what conditions you have, how long they have lasted, what treatment you receive, and how they affect daily life or work.

What to gather

  • Doctor, clinic, hospital, and specialist names
  • Visit dates and treatment history
  • Test results, imaging, labs, and discharge papers
  • Medication lists and side effects
Medical Records Needed for DisabilityApplying With Missing Medical Records

Treating Provider

A treating provider is a doctor, clinic, therapist, specialist, or other healthcare professional who has treated you for your condition.

Why it matters

Your treating providers can help show the history of your condition and treatment. It is useful to keep their names, contact information, and visit dates organized.

What to gather

  • Provider names and clinic names
  • Phone numbers or addresses if available
  • Approximate first and most recent visit dates
  • What each provider treats you for
Medical Records Needed for DisabilityApplying With Missing Medical Records

Residual Functional Capacity

Residual functional capacity, often called RFC, is a term used to describe what a person may still be able to do despite health limitations.

Why it matters

When preparing disability information, it helps to describe limits with sitting, standing, walking, lifting, focus, attendance, pace, and the need for breaks.

What to gather

  • Examples of physical limits
  • Examples of focus, memory, or pace problems
  • How long you can sit, stand, or walk if known
  • How often you need breaks or miss activities
How to Describe Work LimitationsApplying With Physical LimitationsApplying With Mental Health Conditions

Function Report

A function report is a form that asks how your condition affects daily activities, personal care, chores, movement, focus, and routines.

Why it matters

Daily examples can make your limitations easier to understand. It helps to write down what you can do, what you cannot do for long, and what has changed.

What to gather

  • Examples of daily tasks that are harder now
  • Personal care or household task limitations
  • Sleep, focus, memory, or social routine changes
  • Help you receive from family, friends, or others
Daily Limitations ChecklistApplying With Physical Limitations

Work Credits

Work credits are credits a person can earn through work covered by Social Security. They can matter for SSDI.

Why it matters

If SSDI is part of your situation, work history can matter. You do not need to calculate work credits on your own to start organizing your information.

What to gather

  • Job titles from recent years
  • Employer names if available
  • Approximate dates worked
  • Last worked date and reason work changed or stopped
Work History ChecklistApplying While Still Working

Date Last Insured

Date last insured is a Social Security term related to SSDI work-credit coverage. It is often shortened to DLI.

Why it matters

This date can matter in some SSDI situations. If you receive a notice mentioning date last insured, save it and keep it with your records.

What to gather

  • SSA notices that mention date last insured
  • Work history and last worked date
  • Medical records around the time your condition limited work
  • Denial letters or appeal paperwork if applicable
What to Do After Disability DenialApplying After Being Denied

Reconsideration

Reconsideration is an appeal step in many disability cases after an initial denial. It asks Social Security to review the claim again.

Why it matters

If you received a denial, deadlines may matter. Keep the denial notice and write down the date you received it.

What to gather

  • Denial notice
  • Appeal deadline if listed
  • New medical visits or records since applying
  • Updated work and daily limitation information
How to Prepare for a Disability AppealApplying After Being Denied

Appeal

An appeal is a request for another review after a disability benefits decision. Different appeal steps may apply depending on the situation.

Why it matters

Appeals can involve deadlines, forms, updated records, and details about what has changed or what information was missing.

What to gather

  • Decision or denial letters
  • Deadline dates
  • Updated medical records
  • New treatment, medication, or limitation information
What to Do After Disability DenialHow to Prepare for a Disability AppealApplying After Being Denied

Hearing

A hearing is an appeal step where a person may have the chance to explain their situation and provide information for review.

Why it matters

If you are preparing for a hearing, it helps to organize medical records, work history, daily limitations, medication information, and notices in one place.

What to gather

  • Hearing notice and date
  • Updated medical records and provider list
  • Medication list and side effects
  • Work history and examples of daily limitations
What to Bring to Disability HearingApplying After Being Denied

Related preparation guides

These pages can help connect glossary terms to the information you may want to organize.

Disability Application ChecklistMedical Records Needed for DisabilityHow to Describe Work LimitationsPhysical Limitations GuideMental Health Conditions GuideApplying After Being Denied

Condition-specific preparation guides

These pages are examples of how to organize records, symptoms, treatment, and daily limitations by condition type.

Back painCOPDDepression or anxietyArthritisAfter a strokeHeart problemsDiabetesNeuropathyCancerFibromyalgiaMultiple sclerosisPTSD

How the free screening can help

The free readiness screening walks through medical, work, treatment, daily limitation, application-status, and contact-consent questions. It can help you organize information before applying, appealing, or speaking with SSA, a doctor, an advocate, a representative, or a trusted helper.

Start Free Readiness Screening

FAQ

Can this glossary tell me if I qualify for disability benefits?

No. This glossary is for general education and preparation only. It does not decide eligibility or predict approval.

Should I know all of these terms before I apply?

No. You can start by organizing your medical treatment, work history, daily limits, medications, and notices. The glossary can help explain terms you see along the way.

Can I use these terms when speaking with SSA or a representative?

Yes. The plain-English definitions can help you understand common words and phrases, but you should still use your own words when describing your condition and limits.

What is the best place to start?

Start with your medical providers, conditions, treatment history, medications, work history, and daily limitations. The free readiness screening can help you organize those details.

Important: This site is not the Social Security Administration. This page is for general education and preparation only. It is not legal advice and does not predict approval, eligibility, or benefits.